Police have confirmed that the vehicle recovered from the Hennops River on Thursday, 1 May 2025, belonged to three missing Free State constables who tragically died in the crash.
The white VW Polo was found submerged in the river, carrying constables Cebekhulu Linda, Keamogetswe Buys, and Boipelo Senoge, who were traveling from Bloemfontein to Polokwane when the accident occurred in the early hours of Thursday last week.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are still piecing together the events leading to the fatal crash. CCTV footage from a petrol station near the Grasmere Toll Plaza in Lenasia captured the officers’ vehicle at around 1:30 AM last week. The footage also shows a man in a Nissan NP200 pulling up alongside the VW Polo, appearing to observe the occupants before driving off.
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed that the man in the video was traced and interviewed, along with his employer.
“They were overtaking each other along the road, and at some point, he felt uncomfortable and wanted to see who was in the car. After he saw it was two ladies and a man, he felt more at ease and left,” Masemola explained.
Police verified the man’s alibi and confirmed he had no involvement in the officers’ deaths.
Unrelated Discovery of Lyttleton Groundskeeper
Masemola also clarified that the recovery of a Lyttleton Police Station groundskeeper’s body from the same river was unrelated to this incident.
The investigation into the crash continues as authorities work to determine the exact cause.
The deaths of the three constables have sent shockwaves through the police service, with tributes pouring in for the fallen officers.